COUNCILLORS will reconsider plans to close a swimming pool to make way for a youth centre.

Swimmers who use the smaller of two pools at Newcastle’s City Baths, on Northumberland Road, say they are being forced out.

Newcastle City Council was provisionally offered a £4.9m grant earlier this year by the Government and the Big Lottery Fund to create a youth centre as part of the MyPlace project and has since put in a more detailed report to secure the bid.

Provisionally named The Link, the centre, to be built in a derelict building on Vine Place which has not been used for 20 years, would include space for young people to relax, hang out with friends, take part in activities such as dance, music and drama and get advice on careers, health and relationships.

A group of young people from schools across Newcastle have been designing what they hope will be their own real-life Byker Grove.

But people who use the small pool, including members of an aqua-aerobics class, fear they will have nowhere else to go if the pool closes.

Now, following a challenge of the decision by a group of city councillors from both the leading and opposition parties, the decision to plough on with the project will be looked at again at a meeting of the full council next month.

Coun Nick Cott, the Lib Dem executive member for children and young people, said the benefits of the centre would outweigh the inconvenience to pool users.

He said: “Call-in is a vital part of the council’s constitutional checks and balances to make sure the right decisions are made and it is good that councillors are taking an active interest in this project. I look forward to presenting the positive case to the city council meeting next month.

“This project is an amazing opportunity to provide services and facilities for young people in the city centre under one roof. Young people have been engaged extensively with the project’s development and I have been impressed with their creative ideas.

“The issue of the small pool has been considered extensively by the council and alternatives for users have been considered. My own view is that the social benefits of this project outweigh concerns, since many more young people will benefit compared to a comparatively small number of small pool users.

“The city council is only proposing to close one of the three pools at the City Pool, and it should be remembered that Northumbria University has agreed in principle to public access to the new pool being constructed practically next door to the City Pool.”

Coun Joyce McCarty, deputy Labour leader, organised the call-in. She said: “This is a short-term victory for common sense, and I hope the Lib Dems will reflect on the strength of public feeling there is against the small pool closure.

“Getting a stay of execution for the pool gives us a chance to make the case to keep it open to the full city council and I hope pool users will come along.”